Glacier safari - Svalbard Adventures

About

You don’t have to travel far for an extraordinary adventure in nature when in Svalbard. Speed across the fjord in an open RIB boat and experience the best Isfjorden has to offer, from beautiful glaciers to wild mountains and marine wildlife. A true adventure!

This trip brings you out of Longyearbyen to a glacier front in the area surrounding Isfjorden. Our route and the glacier we head to will depend on the weather and sea conditions on the day. The adventure starts with our guide picking you up at your accommodation in Longyearbyen and bringing you to our activity centre. Our guide will talk about the plan for today’s trip, expected conditions and general information about the trip. You’ll get boating equipment from us, and after getting all suited up our guide will bring you along to our RIB boat in the harbour where you’ll get a safety orientation before the boat leaves port.

Chance for encounters and close-up nature-based experiences await us in Isfjorden, an arena for wildlife during Svalbard’s summer months. As the warm ocean currents merge with the cold freshwater from the glaciers, a favourable climate is created, which provides nutrition for plants and animals alike. Surrounded by the sea as a natural pantry, you may become acquainted with the rulers of the wind, like the northern fulmar, black-legged kittiwake and puffin gliding along the water line.

Feel the sea breeze and take in the impressive landscapes as you cross Isfjorden heading towards one of the beautiful glaciers awaiting you on the other side. Once arrived our guide will stop the boat at a safe distance to the glacier from which you can take in the sight of it while listening to our guide who will share their knowledge about glaciers in Svalbard. During this stop our guide will serve hot drinks and cookies as long as the conditions allow.
Isfjorden is home to several spectacular glaciers, and our destination for this trip may vary from day to day.

The sound of thunder erupts from the glacier. The glacier is on the move. The sound comes from the vast amounts of ice moving and being pushed closer to the fjord where they break off. This spectacular natural phenomenon is known as calving. Unlike glaciers in some other parts of the world, the glaciers in Svalbard can recede slowly for many years before suddenly gaining rapid speed and advancing many kilometres in the space of a few years through a process known as surging.

Enjoy and take in the surroundings by the glacier front until it’s time to return to Longyearbyen. Once back at our activity centre our guide will go through a debrief with you about today’s trip before returning you to your accommodation in Longyearbyen.

What you’ll experience and do on this trip:
- Cross Isfjorden in an open RIB boat.
- See a glacier front in one of Isfjorden’s bays, surrounded by spectacular mountainous landscapes

Included
- Transport to and from your accommodation.
- Floating suit, life vest, boots, mittens and boat googles.
- Guide with safety equipment.
- Search and rescue insurance.
- Hot drinks and cookies.
- Waterproof drybag for small items such as a mobile phone, compact camera or similar.

Important information
- We recommend warm clothing to wear under the floating suit such as wool underwear, wool socks, thick sweater, and windproof outer clothing.
- A small backpack for extra clothing or other items
- Age limit: 10 years, or 14 years if the passenger is not accompanied by an adult.
- Height restriction: inseam of least 74 cm.
- For safety reasons, the route may change due to weather, wind and ice conditions.
- Our floatation suits are not fully waterproof, and in rough seas you may get wet from sea spray.
- We recommend packing cameras, phones, binoculars and similar items brought on the trip in a waterproof way. 
- We do not recommend this tour if you are pregnant or have back problems.
- Minimum number of participants: 2 persons
- For safety reasons, all passengers must be able to understand and communicate in either Norwegian or English. If this is not possible, the passenger must be accompanied by someone who is fluent in one of these languages.